The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

"Gurgle, gurgle."

The two arrived at Dōsan's dormitory.

Before starting school, Dōsan hid some fine wine and smoked meat and asked the staff to help him bring them into the college dormitory.

Rangiku sat cross-legged, and when she was thoroughly enjoying her drink, she would make two "smack" sounds.

"Um, Sister Rangiku, are you feeling better now?" Dōsan asked tentatively.

Rangiku's arms, which were holding the large sake jar, stiffened for a moment.

How could I forget the important matter again?

After a moment, Rangiku's nose twitched and her eyelids twitched slightly, making an expression as if she was about to cry.

But this time, despite her smooth, bright face twitching for a long time, not even a clap of thunder was heard.

She seemed to be staring blankly at the wine bottle, and after a while, Rangiku couldn't hold back any longer and plunged her face directly into the wine jar.

"Little Brother Dōsan, I'm in so much pain, gurgling."

Dōsan could definitely sense his aunt's grief. She buried her face in the wine jar, refusing to look up; was she trying to suffocate herself?

Please tell me if you need anything, I'll definitely help you.

"Really?" Rangiku broke free of the wine jar, her orange hair sticking with chrysanthemum wine, and smeared it Dōsan's face.

Seeing Rangiku's hopeful gaze, Dōsan felt that he might have been a bit hasty.

"Aunt Rangiku, could you please explain this to me first?"

This explanation went on for a long time, with Rangiku going even further back to a thousand years ago.

Simply put, the Tenth Division is like the police in Soul Reaper, responsible for various illegal activities within the Seireitei. Every time Soul Reaper commits an illegal act such as fighting or theft, the Tenth Division is required to conduct a trial and organize the documents, which is called team affairs.

In the past few days, the 11th Division seems to have gone mad, starting fights with members of the Second Division who are her good friend's gang.

It wasn't serious; neither side used their Zankensōki —it was just a normal brawl.

Everyone was unharmed, but the surrounding buildings were completely destroyed, so the Tenth Division needed to take responsibility.

What's infuriating is that, even if their injuries aren't serious, these people often start fighting again as soon as they're discharged from the hospital.

Dozens of cases a day.

It's all the 11th Division's fault!

They even framed their good brother's Second Division; how despicable!

Speaking of Ikkaku even beat up his good brother, causing him to miss out on drinking that day, which is even more hateful.

"Gurgle gurgle..."

Rangiku's neutral statement, devoid of any emotional bias, suddenly elevated the 11th Division's image in Dōsan's mind to second only to the Twelfth Division.

Thinking No Cause the strange feeling that Bu Yin had given her, and considering that her mindset hadn't been suitable for cultivation lately, she said, "Sister Rangiku, let me help you deal with this!"

Rangiku Matsumoto put down the sake jar, her light silver eyes shining. "How can this be?" she said, picking up a stack of papers and placing them next to Dōsan.

Are these the documents?

Dōsan was still a little curious. Since he was going to the Tenth Division anyway, it was good to get used to it sooner rather than later.

Yes, Dōsan tacitly agreed. The kindness shown to him by Aunt Rangiku and Isshin left Dōsan no other choice.

"No, before you can revise a document, you need to understand the rules of the Gotei 13 in order to make a fair judgment."

"So, is this the legal provision?"

There weren't many; Dōsan only glanced at them briefly.

"We're very close." Rangiku touched her orange hair sheepishly. "This is the table of contents for the legal provisions."

Dōsan was so startled that he took several steps back.

Listen to me say thank you, because you bring warmth to all four seasons.

"Little brother Dōsan, you must work hard. In a year, you will be the Third Seat of the Tenth Division. Within three years, defeat that old man Isshin, and you will be the captain of the Tenth Division."

Dōsan raised his head, Rangiku in front of him revealed a harmless smile, while his figure gradually overlapped with that of the izakaya manager.

Drawing a pie in the sky.

After a while, Rangiku Matsumoto had drunk enough and it was time to start working on her plan!

He needed to constantly probe the old man's weaknesses to pave the way for Dōsan to become the captain.

The Tenth Division Captain's Quarters.

Isshin Shiba on his position, was doing things that would shake the entire Seireitei.

He's practicing calligraphy!

[364 days and 15 hours]

More than 300 days later, Dōsan will join his Tenth Division and become the Third Seat.

But even Captain-Commander Yamamoto probably couldn't imagine that Isshin Shiba was playing a grand game.

Are Third Seats enough?

I'll take down that idiot Rangiku Matsumoto within a year and become the vice-captain.

Within three years, he will kill himself and become the captain of the Tenth Division.

Whoever wants to be the team leader can do it; I'm going back to the Shiba Clan to inherit the family business.

I'm such a handsome and dashing young man, and I'm almost turning into an old man in the Tenth Division.

As for the Soul Reaper, he's not allowed to retire.

Isshin I can tell you is that the law does not apply to the Five Great Noble Clans.

"Team leader..."

Now, Isshin is hear that chrysanthemum-like sound, and I want to kill someone.

He lowered his head, Isshin not to hear, and continued practicing calligraphy.

[364 days, 14 and a half hours]

"Captain, I feel I've made considerable progress in my Bankai training. Would you like to spar with me?"

"Snap!" A look of surprise flashed in Isshin's eyes. He slapped the brush hard, breaking it in two.

Is this for real?

As the head of a branch family of the Shiba Clan, it would be inappropriate for him to do such a thing to a female subordinate.

Isn't this practically delivered right to my doorstep?

"Come on, this is the training room." Isshin, like a waiter serving a customer, coaxed Rangiku Matsumoto into a small, dark room, then "clicked" the door shut, leaned against it, and let out a strange "giggle" laugh.

Rangiku, who was walking ahead, felt a chill in her heart and involuntarily tugged at her collar.

This creepy old man, I wonder if he'll do anything weird.

Isshin Shiba laughed so hard he almost fell over, his hand gripping his Zanpakuto as he drew it. "Hehehe, I've waited ten years for this day. Do you know how I've endured these ten years?"

"Bankai!"

"Captain, great news!" Ōmaeda wiggled his flabby frame as he approached Soi Fon. "That idiot Rangiku really fell for it."

Soi Fon, with her back to Ōmaeda, also smiled, something she hadn't done in a long time.

"Captain, I've just racked my brains and come up with another plan. If we use it, Dōsan Hanyū will definitely fall head over heels for you."

How could you say something so disgusting?

Even though Ōmaeda's efforts have already shown initial success, Soi Fon's heart still pounds whenever she hears that he's going to use a scheme.

There's one more thing.

"Let's put the plan on hold for now." Soi Fon had thought about it for a long time. "I really wanted to deceive him."

My captain, we are Soul Reaper, we are the Punishment Force, when did you become so naive?

"Captain, we're trying to help him!"

Ōmaeda's shameless words left Soi Fon completely bewildered.

"Captain, think about those two in the Tenth Division. Sending Dōsan to the Tenth Division would be a disservice to him!"

Soi Fon thought to herself, "Isshin can fall asleep standing up during captains' meetings."

There's also Rangiku, who's either drinking or on her way to drink.

What plan do you want to use?

"Don't worry, Captain, Bao Dōsan submit."

Ōmaeda smiled wisely, thinking that he was glad he had a fan in his hand.

First Division.

Captain-Commander Yamamoto sat cross-legged facing the wall, maintaining this posture for over six hours.

A moment later, Captain-Commander Yamamoto opened his eyes, and Vice-Captain Chōjirō Sasakibe, who was kneeling beside him, hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "The Captain-Commander's mental state is becoming increasingly severe."

Yamamoto nodded slightly, stood up and thought for a moment, "That guy named Hanyū... is he settled in?"

"Dōsan Hanyū is now a third-time student, currently being taught by Vice Principal Ōuna. He's scheduled to join the Thirteenth Division in a year, but..."

"Please feel free to speak."

The relationship between Yamamoto and Sasakibe has long since transcended the simple superior-subordinate dynamic.

"Is Dōsan Hanyū's talent truly worthy of the Captain-Commander's attention?"

Chōjirō Sasakibe didn't quite understand; if you take Dōsan Hanyū out of the picture, he's obviously a monstrous genius.

But if we place Dōsan Hanyū in the context of the Soul Society's thousand-year, or even ten-thousand-year, history, what is Dōsan Hanyū?

"Chōjirō, although you already have Captain-level strength, your talent is not top-tier."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Genryūsai."

"No, Chōjirō, what I want to say is that only those who are fellow geniuses can truly understand how terrifying he is."

"Chōjirō." Yamamoto turned to face Sasakibe, whose expression was one of surprise and uncertainty. "Bring him to my barracks tonight."